As time passed, Yuto had already been in the village for six days.
During this period, everything was calm. Yuto moved between the clan grounds and a secret training field, diligently yet monotonously.
Sometimes, he would encounter characters who appeared frequently in the original story. Notably, yesterday, he happened to see a heavily pregnant Mikoto Uchiha.
—By the end of this year, Itachi would be born into the Uchiha family, bringing unprecedented pain to this ancient, illustrious shinobi clan.
This made Yuto somewhat anxious. Although there were still sixteen years before the official start of the "Naruto" storyline, with the main characters gradually appearing, he felt that time was running short.
However, no matter how anxious he was, he could only force himself to calm down and continue his training.
On this particular day, Yuto got up early as usual. After tidying up his clothes and preparing to head to the secret training field, he was stopped by two clan guards as soon as he stepped out of his yard.
"Yuto Hyuga," said the Hyuga clansman wearing a forehead protector, his tone as flat as a robot. "The clan head has instructed me to inform you that there will be a banquet tonight, and you are to attend with the clan head."
"Banquet?" Yuto Hyuga's heart skipped a beat. "Could you tell me more about it, brother?"
"I've delivered the message. That's all I know."
"Oh... Is the clan head available now? I'd like to..."
"The clan head is busy." The messenger's eyelids didn't even flicker as he replied, precisely following his instructions. "Don't go anywhere today, Yuto Hyuga, and make sure you don't act improperly tonight."
Yuto pondered over these words, then bowed respectfully. "Thank you, brother."
After the messenger left, Yuto stood alone in the courtyard, his heart racing.
He had a hunch that this might be related to the conversation he had with Hiruzen a few days ago.
...
The day passed quickly, and as night fell, a carriage stopped in front of Yuto's house. He boarded the carriage and joined the clan head and others at the gate, before leaving the Hyuga territory in a grand procession.
Soon, they arrived at their destination.
As Yuto got off the carriage, the first thing he saw was a peculiar emblem composed of three lines and five small circles.
—This was the Sarutobi clan's crest.
They were at the Sarutobi clan's compound!
Following the attendants, the Hyuga clan entered the main residence.
Since Hiruzen Sarutobi was inaugurated as the Third Hokage, the Sarutobi clan's territory had been expanded multiple times. The main residence, in particular, had been transformed into a formidable banquet hall where Hiruzen often hosted prominent figures of the village. It barely qualified as a family gathering, lacking the absolute hierarchy of the Hokage's office.
In the main hall, Hiruzen sat in the central seat, with several long tables to his right, all empty.
To his left sat about a dozen people, all with handsome features and dark, pure eyes. Their bearing was marked by an accumulated pride, slightly restrained even in the presence of the Third Hokage.
They were from the Uchiha clan.
"Hiashi, don't just stand there," Hiruzen chuckled. Hiashi Hyuga bowed before taking a seat, followed by the rest of the Hyuga clan.
Thus, the three most powerful factions of Konoha—Hiruzen's lineage, the Uchiha, and the Hyuga—were gathered together.
With all the guests present, servants began to serve dishes, and the banquet officially commenced.
Yuto took a bite of sashimi, observing the attendees.
On the Hyuga side, besides the clan head Hiashi Hyuga, his brother Hizashi Hyuga was also present, along with three elderly clan members and four young shinobi, including Yuto.
Among them, Yuto and another white-eyed boy were from the branch family, while the remaining boy and the only girl were from the main family.
—The distinction between the Hyuga main and branch families was easy to spot. Those who didn't wear forehead protectors or bandages to cover their foreheads were from the main family, which seemed to be a privilege worth flaunting.
The Uchiha side had a similar setup: clan head Fugaku Uchiha, his wife Mikoto Uchiha, several elders, and four young shinobi.
As for the host of the banquet, Hiruzen Sarutobi, three people sat beside him.
One had long white hair with red markings under his eyes, and a tall, muscular frame. Despite his lazy demeanor, his broad shoulders gave an impression of reliability, as if he could bear any burden.
Another had pale skin and golden, serpentine eyes. Although handsome, he exuded an aura of fear. Despite his intimidating presence, he had a peculiar allure, dangerous yet compelling.
The last one was a woman with flowing blonde hair, an extraordinarily beautiful face, and a diamond-shaped purple mark on her forehead. She sat there boldly, gulping down alcohol, her demeanor as imposing as any man's.
These three were Hiruzen's esteemed disciples, Konoha's legendary Sannin: Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade!
At this time, only Orochimaru was stationed in Konoha holding a significant position. Jiraiya traveled the world writing novels, while Tsunade, suffering from hemophobia, had distanced herself from Konoha's political center, wandering with the young Shizune, always losing at gambling.
Hiruzen must have put in considerable effort to gather all three of his disciples.
"So many important people..." Yuto thought as he ate slowly, knowing this banquet couldn't be just about food, and thus refrained from eating too much.
Amidst the clinking of glasses, the atmosphere was harmonious.
Though young, both Fugaku and Hiashi were shrewd individuals, while Hiruzen was a seasoned tactician whose words were flawless.
After chatting for a few dozen minutes, Hiruzen finally tapped the table lightly and smiled at the Uchiha side.
"Fugaku, the child to your left, is he [Swift Blade] Shuto?"
"Yes, that's him," Fugaku replied humbly. "This boy is my nephew. He loves using swords and has gained some notoriety outside the village... Shuto?"
"Greetings, Lord Hokage." Shuto Uchiha stepped forward from the table, kneeling on one knee.
His voice was strong, full of youthful energy and pride.
"Good child," Hiruzen smiled, stroking his beard. "Hiashi, the one behind you must be Shinosuke Hyuga, correct? I've heard he mastered the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven at a young age, quite the prodigy."
Shinosuke Hyuga stood and bowed, his forehead smooth and unmarked.
Hiruzen seemed very pleased. Looking at the eight young Uchiha and Hyuga shinobi, he laughed heartily.
"When I was young, following the Second Hokage, the world was in turmoil. My classmates and I would often engage in friendly battles of ninjutsu and taijutsu, finding great joy in it."
"Today, with my three disciples here, and Fugaku and Hiashi too, drinking with an old man like me must be dull... How about letting these youngsters spar a bit?"
(End of Chapter)